5 Voice Robbers to Avoid Going Hoarse Over the Holidays

You depend on your voice to share your talent and expertise with the world. That means that when your voice is hoarse, your impact is muted, too!

If you want to be more influential, connect better, and attract others to you, a healthy voice is absolutely essential. Besides speakers, a full 80% of all singers who develop physical problems with their vocal cords do so because of the way they speak, not the way they sing.

So how do all of us keep our voices fit and powerful? Here are 5 voice robbers to avoid so you don’t start 2017 off in silence:

5. Dehydration

Just like every other organ, your vocal cords need hydration. However, they’re often lower on the hydration priority list and therefore among the first to dry out. Carry a water bottle with you this week to ensure your voice is getting the nutrients it needs.

4. Whispering

Many people switch into whisper mode when they feel their voice getting hoarse. Don’t make this mistake, too! Whispering is like windburn for the vocal cords. Instead, lower your voice pitch and decrease your volume.

3. The Booze Bombs

Our body has to pull water from any organ necessary in order to eliminate the toxins in alcohol after a night of drinking. Often, our vocal cords lose out in these situations. Without enough lubrication, our cords get red and inflamed, impacting our ability to speak and sing. If you’re toasting in 2017, polish off two glasses of water for every adult beverage you drink.

2. Throat Lozenges

Sucking on a lozenge to relieve a sore throat is a pervasive and misinformed myth. While it may feel slightly better in the moment, the sugar in many lozenges drains your body of vital nutrients and the saliva produced to dissolve the lozenge may even be a contributing source of overall bodily dehydration. Next time you feel a scratch in your voice box, opt for drinking a large cup of warm (not hot) water.

1. Shouting

With the right vocal technique, you can fill a room with your voice. However, most people haven’t built up the vocal strength to be able to sustain this for long periods of time. If you find yourself in a loud New Year’s Eve party, add more brassy tones to your voice and inhale through your nose to reduce drying out your vocal cords.

Learn more about how a healthy voice can change your life and discover more powerful strategies to build an influential voice of your own in Set Your Voice Free (Revised Edition). Secure your copy today!